Chief cricket writer for The Age

As he confronts a career crossroads, Usman Khawaja has also had to contend with a manager who took to the airwaves to back his axing from the Test team without disclosing that the pair are in the process of parting ways.

Khawaja, one of four players axed for the third Test in India after failing to submit a written assignment, has been seeking an early exit from his contract with Sydney-based agent Daniel Zammit since late last year.

The talented young batsman has enlisted the support of the Australian Cricketers' Association to negotiate a settlement.

The issue came to a head when Zammit told a Sydney radio station on Monday night that cricketers were soft and the game lags behind rugby league in its professionalism.

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"I dare a young rugby league player to say 'I forgot' (to do my homework). Hell and damnation would come down on their heads," Zammit said on 2GB.

"(But) cricket is different, you're pushing against the ocean. (Professional cricketers) have been taught from a very young age they are special.

"We shouldn’t be surprised by what happened in India, cricket has considered itself separate to other sports... For Mickey Arthur, who is a very strong coach, this is the straw that broke the camel’s back."

Zammit added: "The entire cricket universe is soft in the belly compared to other sports."

Khawaja has reached a critical point in his career as he struggles to overcome a perception held by the national selectors, but not shared by his adopted state of Queensland, that his work ethic is not up to scratch for Test cricket.

His suspension, given he was poised to earn a recall in Mohali, represents a significant setback.

He is not the first young batsman to have sought a new adviser as he seeks to reinvigorate his career; Phillip Hughes made a similar move in 2010, but retained Neil D’Costa as his personal batting coach.